THE government has reactivated a national task force against avian influenza as it moved to maintain the country free from the viral disease. Through Resolution 60 signed on Thursday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) recommendations to strengthen the government’s efforts against Avian influenza strain A(H5N6). The latest directive came after the DA confirmed the resurgence of avian influenza in San Luis, Pampanga, where close to 39,000 egg-producing chickens were culled and disposed of to control the spread of the disease. Field investigations conducted by the department’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that the bird flu may have been caused by migratory birds in the area. These birds have been blamed for bird flu outbreaks in many countries, including the Philippines.

Source: Manila Times July 30, 2020 18:00 UTC